Bite Deterring Helmet Assembly

ABSTRACT

A bite deterring helmet assembly for inhibiting a child from biting another child includes a helmet that can be worn on a head of a child. The helmet has a pair of adjustment elements each being integrated into the helmet for adjusting a fit of the helmet on the child’s head. A face bar is coupled to the helmet to inhibit the child from biting another child. A pair of ears is each of the ears is coupled to and extends outwardly from the helmet to present the ornamental appearance of animal ears. A chin strap is movably coupled to the helmet to extend beneath the child’s chin when the helmet is worn. A teething ring is suspended from the face bar and the teething ring can be chewed by the child for soothing teething pain.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to helmet devices and more particularly pertains to a new helmet device for inhibiting a child from biting another child. The device includes a helmet comprised of a resiliently compressible material which includes cheek panels that extend forwardly beyond a mouth of the child when the helmet is worn on the child. The device includes a face bar to further inhibit the child from biting and a teething ring that is suspended from the face bar.

Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to helmet devices including an orthodontic helmet that has a pivotally adjustable face bar for supporting an orthodontic device. The prior art discloses a variety of protective helmets for infants that are comprised of a rigid material for preventing head injuries. The prior art discloses a novelty cap for children which includes ornamental elements resembling an animal. The prior art discloses a variety of teething devices for soothing teething pain in a child.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a helmet that can be worn on a head of a child. The helmet has a pair of adjustment elements each being integrated into the helmet for adjusting a fit of the helmet on the child’s head. A face bar is coupled to the helmet to inhibit the child from biting another child. A pair of ears is each of the ears is coupled to and extends outwardly from the helmet to present the ornamental appearance of animal ears. A chin strap is movably coupled to the helmet to extend beneath the child’s chin when the helmet is worn. A teething ring is suspended from the face bar and the teething ring can be chewed by the child for soothing teething pain.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a bite deterring helmet assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new helmet device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6 , the bite deterring helmet assembly 10 generally comprises a helmet 12 that can be worn on a head 14 of a child 16. The helmet 12 is comprised of a resiliently compressible material to inhibit the child 16 wearing the helmet 12 from injuring another child by striking the other child with the helmet 12. The helmet 12 has a plurality of vents 18 is integrated into the helmet 12 to ventilate the child’s head 14 when the helmet 12 is being worn. Furthermore, the helmet 12 has a pair of adjustment elements 20 each being integrated into the helmet 12 for adjusting a fit of the helmet 12 on the child’s head 14.

The helmet 12 has an inner surface 22, an outer surface 24 and a perimeter edge 26 extending between the inner surface 22 and the outer surface 24. The perimeter edge 26 has a brow portion 28 extending between a pair of lateral portions 30 and a bottom portion 32 extending between each of the lateral portions 30. Each of the lateral portions 30 is perpendicularly oriented with the brow portion 28 such that the brow portion 28 and the pair of lateral portions 30 define a face opening 34 in the helmet 12 to expose the child’s face 36. Additionally, the bottom portion 32 is perpendicularly oriented with the pair of lateral portions 30, and the bottom portion 32 is continuously arcuate between each of the lateral portions 30 to curve around the child’s neck 38.

Each of the lateral portions 30 angles forwardly between the brow portion 28 and the bottom portion 32 such that each of the lateral portions 30 defines a respective one of a pair of cheek panels 40 of the helmet 12. In this way each of the cheek panels 40 can extend forwardly beyond the child’s mouth 41 when the helmet 12 is worn thereby inhibiting the child’s 16 ability to bite another child. The helmet 12 has a pair of cuts 42 each extending through the inner surface 22 and the outer surface 24. Moreover, each of the cuts 42 extends rearwardly from a respective intersection between the brow portion 28 and the pair of lateral portions 30 such that each of the cuts 42 defines a respective one of the adjustment elements 20.

Each of the cuts 42 is associated with a respective one of the cheek panels 40. Each of the cuts 42 facilitates the respective cheek panel 40 to be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly when the cuts 42 are urged open or closed. In this way the pair of cuts 42 facilitates the cheek panels 40 to be adjusted to accommodate the child’s 16 facial structure. Each of the vents 18 comprises a hole 44 which extends through the inner surface 22 and the outer surface 24. The vents 18 are spaced apart from each other and are distributed in a plurality of rows 46 extending between the brow portion 28 of the perimeter edge 26 and the bottom portion 32 of the perimeter edge 26.

A pair of first mating members 48 is each coupled to the outer surface 24 of the helmet 12. Each of the first mating members 48 is positioned adjacent to a respective one of the cuts 42 in the helmet 12. A pair of second mating members 50 is provided and each of the second mating members 50 has a coupled edge 52 and a bottom surface 54. The coupled edge 52 of each of the second mating members 50 is coupled to the outer surface 24 of the helmet 12. Each of the second mating members 50 is positioned on an opposite side of a respective cut 42 with respect to a respective one of the first mating members 48. Each of the second mating members 50 is foldable over the respective cut 42 such that the bottom surface 54 of each of the second mating members 50 releasably engages the respective first mating member 48 for retaining the cheek panels 40 at a desired degree of adjustment. Each of the first mating members 48 and the second mating members 50 may comprise complementary portions of a hook and loop fastener or other type of releasable, multiple use fastener.

A face bar 56 is coupled to the helmet 12 to extend across the child’s face 36 when the helmet 12 is worn to inhibit the child 16 from biting another child 16. The face bar 56 has a first end 58 and a second end 60, and the face bar 56 is curved between the first end 58 and the second end 60. Each of the first end 58 and the second end 60 is coupled to a respective one of the lateral portions 30 of the perimeter edge 26 of the helmet 12. Furthermore, each of the first end 58 and the second end 60 is positioned adjacent to a respective intersection between the lateral portions 30 and the bottom portion 32 of the perimeter edge 26.

A pair of ears 62 is provided and each of the ears 62 is coupled to and extends outwardly from the helmet 12 to present the ornamental appearance of animal ears. Each of the ears 62 has a bottom edge 64 and a forward surface 66, and the bottom edge 64 is coupled to the outer surface 24 of the helmet 12 having the forward surface 66 being directed forwardly on the helmet 12. Ear indicia 68 are printed on the forward surface 66 and the ear indicia 68 comprise a circle to represent a caricature of the structure of an animal’s ear. Face indicia 70 are printed on the outer surface 24 of the helmet 12 and the face indicia 70 comprises imagery of two eyes, a nose and whiskers to present a caricature of an animal’s face. The face indicia 70 are positioned between the brow portion 28 of the perimeter edge 26 and each of the ears 62.

A chin strap 72 is movably coupled to the helmet 12 such that the chin strap 72 extends beneath the child’s chin 74 when the helmet 12 is worn. The chin strap 72 has a primary end 76 and a secondary end 78, and the chin strap 72 is curved between the primary end 76 and the secondary end 78. Each of the primary end 76 and the secondary end 78 is pivotally coupled to the inner surface 22 of the helmet 12 at a point that is located adjacent to the bottom portion 32 of the perimeter edge 26 of the helmet 12. The chin strap 72 is spaced from an intersection between each of the lateral portions 30 and the bottom portion 32 of the perimeter edge 26 of the helmet 12.

A teething ring 80 is suspended from the face bar 56 such that the teething ring 80 can be chewed by the child 16 for soothing teething pain. The teething ring 80 includes a lanyard 82 which extends away from the teething ring 80. The lanyard 82 has a distal end 84 with respect to the teething ring 80 and the lanyard 82 includes a closed ring 86 that is disposed on the distal end 84. Additionally, the closed ring 86 extends around the face bar 56. The teething ring 80 may be comprised of a resiliently compressible material and the teething ring 80 may be structured to have the ornamental appearance of an animal.

In use, the helmet 12 is positioned on the child’s head 14 and each of the cheek panels 40 is adjusted, if necessary, to ensure the cheek panels 40 extend forwardly beyond the child’s mouth 41. Each of the second mating members 50 is mated to the respective first mating member 48 to retain the cheek panels 40 at the desired location. In this way the child 16 is inhibited from biting other children while the child 16 is wearing the helmet 12. Additionally, the face bar 56 further inhibits the child 16 from biting other children. In this way the health and safety of children in a daycare environment can be maintained with respect to eliminating biting injuries.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements. 

I claim:
 1. A bite deterring helmet assembly for inhibiting a child from biting another child, said assembly comprising: a helmet being configured to be worn on a head of a child, said helmet being comprised of a resiliently compressible material wherein said helmet is configured to inhibit the child wearing the helmet from injuring another child by striking the other child with said helmet, said helmet having a plurality of vents being integrated into said helmet wherein each of said vents is configured to ventilate the child’s head when said helmet is being worn, said helmet having a pair of adjustment elements each being integrated into said helmet for adjusting a fit of said helmet on the child’s head; a face bar being coupled to said helmet wherein said face bar is configured to extend across the child’s face when said helmet is worn to inhibit the child from biting another child; a pair of ears, each of said ears being coupled to and extending outwardly from said helmet wherein each of said ears is configured to present the ornamental appearance of animal ears; a chin strap being movably coupled to said helmet wherein said chin strap is configured to extend beneath the child’s chin when said helmet is worn; and a teething ring being suspended from said face bar wherein said teething ring is configured to be chewed by the child for soothing teething pain.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: said helmet has an inner surface, an outer surface and a perimeter edge extending between said inner surface and said outer surface, said perimeter edge having a brow portion extending between a pair of lateral portions and a bottom portion extending between each of said lateral portions, each of said lateral portions being perpendicularly oriented with said brow portion such that said brow portion and said pair of lateral portions defines a face opening in said helmet wherein said face opening is configured to expose the child’s face, said bottom portion being perpendicularly oriented with said pair of lateral portions, said bottom portion being continuously arcuate between each of said lateral portions wherein said bottom portion is configured to curve around the child’s neck; each of said lateral portions angling forwardly between said brow portion and said bottom portion such that each of said lateral portions defines a respective one of a pair of cheek panels of said helmet wherein each of said cheek panels is configured to extend forwardly beyond the child’s mouth when said helmet is worn thereby inhibiting the child’s ability to bite another child; said helmet has a pair of cuts each extending through said inner surface and said outer surface, each of said cuts extending rearwardly from a respective intersection between said brow portion and said pair of lateral portions such that each of said cuts defines a respective one of said adjustment elements, each of said cuts being associated with a respective one of said cheek panels, each of said cuts facilitating said respective cheek portion to be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly when said cuts are urged open or closed wherein said pair of cuts is configured to facilitate said cheek panels to be adjusted to accommodate the child’s facial structure; and each of said vents comprises a hole extending through said inner surface and said outer surface, said vents being spaced apart from each other and being distributed in a plurality of rows extending between said brow portion of said perimeter edge and said bottom portion of said perimeter edge.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a pair of first mating members, each of said first mating members being coupled to said outer surface of said helmet, each of said first mating members being positioned adjacent to a respective one of said cuts in said helmet.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a pair of second mating members, each of said second mating members having a coupled edge and a bottom surface, said coupled edge of each of said second mating members being coupled to said outer surface of said helmet, each of said second mating members being positioned on an opposite side of a respective cut with respect to a respective one of said first mating members, each of said second mating members being foldable over said respective cut such that said bottom surface of each of said second mating members releasably engages said respective first mating member for retaining said cheek panels at a desired degree of adjustment.
 5. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said face bar has a first end and a second end, said face bar being curved between said first end and said second end, each of said first end and said second end being coupled to a respective one of said lateral portions of said perimeter edge of said helmet, each of said first end and said second end being positioned adjacent to a receptive intersection between said lateral portions and said bottom portion of said perimeter edge.
 6. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein each of said ears has a bottom edge and a forward surface, said bottom edge being coupled to said outer surface of said helmet having said forward surface being directed forwardly on said helmet, said forward surface having ear indicia being printed thereon comprising a circle wherein said circle is configured to represent a caricature of the structure of an animal’s ear.
 7. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said outer surface of said helmet has face indicia being printed thereon, said face indicia comprising imagery of two eyes, a nose and whiskers wherein said face indicia is configured to present a caricature of an animal’s face, said face indicia being positioned between said brow portion of said perimeter edge and each of said ears.
 8. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said chin strap has a primary end and a secondary end, said chin strap being curved between said primary end and said secondary end, each of said primary end and said secondary end being pivotally coupled to said inside surface of said helmet at a point being located adjacent to said bottom portion of said perimeter edge of said helmet, said chin strap being spaced from an intersection between each of said lateral portions and said bottom portion of said perimeter edge of said helmet.
 9. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said teething ring includes a lanyard extending away from said teething ring, said lanyard having a distal end with respect to said teething ring, said lanyard including a closed ring being disposed on said distal end, said closed ring extending around said face bar.
 10. A bite deterring helmet assembly for inhibiting a child from biting another child, said assembly comprising: a helmet being configured to be worn on a head of a child, said helmet being comprised of a resiliently compressible material wherein said helmet is configured to inhibit the child wearing the helmet from injuring another child by striking the other child with said helmet, said helmet having a plurality of vents being integrated into said helmet wherein each of said vents is configured to ventilate the child’s head when said helmet is being worn, said helmet having a pair of adjustment elements each being integrated into said helmet for adjusting a fit of said helmet on the child’s head, said helmet having an inner surface, an outer surface and a perimeter edge extending between said inner surface and said outer surface, said perimeter edge having a brow portion extending between a pair of lateral portions and a bottom portion extending between each of said lateral portions, each of said lateral portions being perpendicularly oriented with said brow portion such that said brow portion and said pair of lateral portions defines a face opening in said helmet wherein said face opening is configured to expose the child’s face, said bottom portion being perpendicularly oriented with said pair of lateral portions, said bottom portion being continuously arcuate between each of said lateral portions wherein said bottom portion is configured to curve around the child’s neck, each of said lateral portions angling forwardly between said brow portion and said bottom portion such that each of said lateral portions defines a respective one of a pair of cheek panels of said helmet wherein each of said cheek panels is configured to extend forwardly beyond the child’s mouth when said helmet is worn thereby inhibiting the child’s ability to bite another child, said helmet having a pair of cuts each extending through said inner surface and said outer surface, each of said cuts extending rearwardly from a respective intersection between said brow portion and said pair of lateral portions such that each of said cuts defines a respective one of said adjustment elements, each of said cuts being associated with a respective one of said cheek panels, each of said cuts facilitating said respective cheek portion to be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly when said cuts are urged open or closed wherein said pair of cuts is configured to facilitate said cheek panels to be adjusted to accommodate the child’s facial structure, each of said vents comprising a hole extending through said inner surface and said outer surface, said vents being spaced apart from each other and being distributed in a plurality of rows extending between said brow portion of said perimeter edge and said bottom portion of said perimeter edge; a pair of first mating members, each of said first mating members being coupled to said outer surface of said helmet, each of said first mating members being positioned adjacent to a respective one of said cuts in said helmet; a pair of second mating members, each of said second mating members having a coupled edge and a bottom surface, said coupled edge of each of said second mating members being coupled to said outer surface of said helmet, each of said second mating members being positioned on an opposite side of a respective cut with respect to a respective one of said first mating members, each of said second mating members being foldable over said respective cut such that said bottom surface of each of said second mating members releasably engages said respective first mating member for retaining said cheek panels at a desired degree of adjustment; a face bar being coupled to said helmet wherein said face bar is configured to extend across the child’s face when said helmet is worn to inhibit the child from biting another child, said face bar having a first end and a second end, said face bar being curved between said first end and said second end, each of said first end and said second end being coupled to a respective one of said lateral portions of said perimeter edge of said helmet, each of said first end and said second end being positioned adjacent to a receptive intersection between said lateral portions and said bottom portion of said perimeter edge; a pair of ears, each of said ears being coupled to and extending outwardly from said helmet wherein each of said ears is configured to present the ornamental appearance of animal ears, each of said ears having a bottom edge and a forward surface, said bottom edge being coupled to said outer surface of said helmet having said forward surface being directed forwardly on said helmet, said forward surface having ear indicia being printed thereon comprising a circle wherein said circle is configured to represent a caricature of the structure of an animal’s ear; wherein said outer surface of said helmet has face indicia being printed thereon, said face indicia comprising imagery of two eyes, a nose and whiskers wherein said face indicia is configured to present a caricature of an animal’s face, said face indicia being positioned between said brow portion of said perimeter edge and each of said ears; a chin strap being movably coupled to said helmet wherein said chin strap is configured to extend beneath the child’s chin when said helmet is worn, said chin strap having a primary end and a secondary end, said chin strap being curved between said primary end and said secondary end, each of said primary end and said secondary end being pivotally coupled to said inside surface of said helmet at a point being located adjacent to said bottom portion of said perimeter edge of said helmet, said chin strap being spaced from an intersection between each of said lateral portions and said bottom portion of said perimeter edge of said helmet; and a teething ring being suspended from said face bar wherein said teething ring is configured to be chewed by the child for soothing teething pain, said teething ring including a lanyard extending away from said teething ring, said lanyard having a distal end with respect to said teething ring, said lanyard including a closed ring being disposed on said distal end, said closed ring extending around said face bar. 